Health Committee meets young people at heart of obesity research

 Layla Moran MP, Chair of Parliament’s Health and Social Care Select Committee, has met the young people, academics and clinical teams at the heart of research into how those living with severe obesity, can be better supported with weight management.

She met with patients of Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust’s Complications of Excess Weight (CEW) service at a visit to Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) to find out about its evaluation of NHS CEW services – which offer specialist help to children and young people living with severe obesity and associated complications – as part of the Committee’s Inquiry into Food and Weight Management.

Severe childhood obesity is a major public health challenge in England, affecting approximately 15 per cent of children aged between 2 and 15. To help address this, the Inquiry is investigating what Government can do to tackle the rising national prevalence of obesity, one of the key pledges of its 10-year health plan launched last year.

Listening to the experiences of young people and their families 

At the AWRC Layla met with children and young people, along with their families, who have attended specialist services like CEW clinics. They discussed the challenges they have faced living with severe obesity, their experiences of treatment and support, and how they have benefitted.

She also spoke with the academics and clinical teams evaluating the effectiveness of CEW services to understand how they are delivered, and how they not only support children and young people to lose weight, but address other complex clinical and psychosocial needs, to improve their whole health and wellbeing.

During the visit, the team highlighted findings from its ENHANCE study – which recently made national headlines in the UK after being presented at the 2026 European Congress on Obesity. Those findings support the clinical need for national access to specialist services like CEW clinics, as the most effective way to help children and young people living with severe obesity, to improve their health and quality of life and reduce the likelihood of developing life altering complications from excess weight in the future.

Speaking at the AWRC, Layla said it was fantastic to hear how the services has helped the children and young people she met: “I am passionate about trying to change the stigma around severe obesity, so it’s wonderful to hear how services like these are helping young people. We know there are huge factors at play in why obesity is on the rise, which is why we have launched our biggest enquiry to date to find out about what help is on offer and what more we can do, so we needed to speak to the people using these services first and foremost.”

In attendance were the research team from the ENHANCE study and members from clinical teams from hospitals across England that offer CEW services. Representatives from SHINE Health Academy, a community-based weight management programme offering peer support for young people, and members of the ARROWS group, a team of young people and their families working with the team to ensure their voices are included in the research, were also invited to join the discussions.

Our complications of excess weight service

A number of young people at the event are under the care of Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust CEW service. Its whole-child approach means the young person and their family are supported throughout their entire health and care journey, be that in hospital, school or at home, with kindness, expertise, and unwavering commitment. The CEW team there is made up of number of roles including psychologists, paediatric consultants, support workers, dietitians and more, who work in partnership with dentistry, citizens advice, sleep specialists and other partners to make sure young people get the help they need for a healthier future.

Dr Dita Aswani, a consultant paediatrician at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, CEW clinician and co-investigator on the ENHANCE study, said:

“On behalf of our CEW clinical teams and colleagues across England, our enormous thanks to Layla for her deep commitment to truly understanding this frequently mis-represented area, the complexities of which are so often overlooked, and viewed only at surface level due to persistent societal stigma and bias surrounding this chronic condition.

“Layla created a safe, respectful space where every young person felt heard, valued, and able to speak openly. She took the time to listen to each of them, ensuring they had the platform they deserve. Their experiences within CEW services confirm that the uniquely holistic, individualised and multiprofessional wraparound care provided genuinely meets people’s needs, offering meaningful support and helping to achieve positive outcomes. We are immensely proud of these young people for their courage and honesty in sharing their perspectives and insights.”

Dr Cath Homer, Associate Professor in Obesity and Public Health at Sheffield Hallam University and co-lead of the ENHANCE study, said:

“Complex issues like severe childhood obesity require complex solutions, and our research shows that specialist CEW services are an effective way to get young people living complications from severe obesity the tailored help and support needed for better health, and long-term successful weight management.

“We can present the statistics and outcomes for patients from our studies that show this, but probably more valuable for the Committee, was hearing directly from young people about the impact these services can have for them. Showing just how vital national access to CEW services will be in ensuring a healthier future for millions of people across the UK.”

Professor Louisa Ells, Professor of Obesity at Leeds Beckett University and co-lead of the ENHANCE study said:

“We were so incredibly proud of the inspiring young people and families who kindly took the time to join us and share their lived experiences with Layla. Their voices bring the ENHANCE study to life, they are at heart of everything we do, and they provide no clearer illustration as to why the CEW services are so incredibly important, how they are changing young lives for the better, and why they need to continue.”

Reflecting on her visit to the AWRC after the event, Layla added: “It was so inspiring to see a model of how young people living with excess weight can be treated – holistically, respectfully and with care. This will provide valuable evidence that will help inform the Committee’s upcoming report to the Department of Health and Social Care.”